Federal agency warns of radicals on right — 9-page report sent to police — The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement officials about a rise in “rightwing extremist activity,” saying the economic recession, the election of America's first black president and the return …

The ultimate reaping of what one sows: right-wing edition — (updated below - Update II) — Right-wing polemicists today are shrieking in self-pitying protest over a new report from the Department of Homeland Security sent to local police forces which warns of growing “right-wing extremist activity.”

About That DHS Report on Right-Wing Extremism — Here we go again. — The latest cause for hyperventilation in the right-wing blogosphere is a report from the Department of Homeland Security on the need for vigilance against extreme right-wing groups like Posse Comitatus, militias …

Even Gillibrand's ballot challenged — This just in from Columbia County: when Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's absentee ballot came up in the queue, the poll watchers for Jim Tedisco objected to it, saying the senator was in the county on election day and should have voted in person.

Paterson Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage Bill — Gov. David A. Paterson will announce on Thursday plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, according to people with knowledge of the governor's plans. — Mr. Paterson's move, which he first signaled last week …

Goldman Sachs's Viniar ‘Mystified’ by Interest in AIG — David Viniar, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s chief financial officer, said he's “mystified” by the interest investors and government officials have shown in the bank's trading relationship with American International Group Inc.

Obama Meets Privately With the Dead — Musicians Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the band The Dead perform in NYC, March 30, 2009. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images ) — The surviving (and formerly feuding) members of the Grateful Dead had a secret impromptu meeting Monday evening with the man they credit with reuniting them: President Obama.

ELIOT SPITZER'S WANDERING EYE ON AG — BEHIND Eliot Spitzer's flaccid attempt at re-erecting his public persona is a plan to run for state attorney general in 2010, sources told Page Six. — After launching a column on Slate.com, and giving interviews to National Public Radio and the …

“The House Upon a Rock” — The past three months have seem a storm of activity from the White House, with initiatives on housing, the markets, the auto industry, small businesses, international financial cooperation, and job creation through the Recovery Act.

Democracy and Capitalism — I've been thinking a lot lately about the political theory of an independent central bank. A lot of the libertarians I know have deep issues with the activities of the Fed, which have been largely unaccountable to elected officials. — That's a valid critique.

Virginia Republicans are for [Lesbian] Lovers — Wow- at the official Republican Party of Virginia Youtube channel- look at what video they loaded as a “favorite” on Youtube. — WARNING: DO NOT WATCH VIDEO UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE SOFT CORE PORN SPONSORED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA.

Barbara Bush to Marry in Maine This Summer? — While Michelle Obama (and that dude she married) have been enjoying the spotlight during their first few months in the White House, I hear a little stardust is about to sprinkle on the previous family to live there. — Summer wedding in Maine, anyone?

National Republicans Get Behind Specter — National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn released a letter today offering a full-throated endorsement of Sen. Arlen Specter in his coming primary against former congressman Pat Toomey, a decision driven by a concern …

Vatican vetoes Obama ambassador — Caroline Kennedy deemed unacceptable because of abortion views — The Vatican has vetoed three of Barack Obama's potential nominees as US ambassador amid a growing dispute between the White House and the Roman Catholic church over the new administration's support …

Burr told family to withdraw everything from bank — Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) says when the financial crisis began he encouraged his wife to withdraw all the cash she possibly could from their local bank. — During a speech on the economy last night, Burr related his immediate reaction the week the crisis began.

GOP scrambles to show it has ideas — House Republican Whip Eric Cantor — the man Democrats dubbed “Dr. No” — is taking great pains these days to prove he has a raft of ideas of his own. — Stung by the Democratic barbs, the House's No. 2 Republican is unveiling a “Solutions Center” …

Bo-bama: First dog has ‘star quality’ — “He's a star,” President Barack Obama said today of the first family's new dog, Bo. “He's got star qualities.” — The Portuguese water dog officially registered as Amigo's New Hope but known to the Obama family as “Bo” certainly drew a sizeable pack …

AND A SPECIAL PIRATE ROUND-UP. — There's an avalanche of piracy related material today. Noah Shachtman has a fabulous rundown of what's wrong with several of the major proposed solutions for fighting piracy. Dave Schuler does pretty much the same bit, and comes to the same conclusions.

Nice fight, Norm, but it's over — There's nothing wrong with going to court, but the case being made in the U.S. Senate race was always going to be a tough one to win. — Ordinarily, I'm a big fan of litigation. I teach law students civil procedure — the rules involved in suing people.

Kmiec on Dawn Johnsen: Former OLC head Douglas Kmiec argues in the Legal Times that Senate Republicans should not obstruct the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen to be head of the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department. I agree. He writes: … UPDATE: In the comments below …